The dynamic change of circulating tumour cells in patients with operable breast cancer before and after chemotherapy based on a multimarker QPCR platform

British Journal of Cancer, 05/04/2012Chong MH et al.

Systemic adjuvant chemotherapy had a significant impact on circulating tumour cells (CTC) status, and this effect could be observed after three cycles of chemotherapy. Circulating tumour cells detection had the potential to be used to evaluate the efficacy of systemic adjuvant chemotherapy immediately after the chemotherapy was finished in operable breast cancer patients.

Author Commentary

S Wang(05/07/2012)

The possible presence of hematogenous dissemination is the rationale behind the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in operable breast cancer patients. Circulating tumour cells (CTC) in peripheral blood may represent the early hematogenous dissemination of breast cancer. It was hypothesized CTC could be used to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy immediately after chemotherapy was finished. So we conducted this trial. Factually it shew systemic adjuvant chemotherapy had a significant impact on CTC status, and this effect could be observed after three cycles of chemotherapy, CTC detection had the potential to be used to evaluate the efficacy of systemic adjuvant immediately after chemotherapy was finished. However, owing to the short follow-up time, our results should be interpreted with caution until verified from a long-term follow-up aimed to prognosis.